Fall 2022 Conference

Registration is open!

MD GFOA invites you to attend the 2022 Fall Conference taking place on Friday, October 28, 2022 at the BWI Marriott in Linthicum, MD! Check-in begins at 8:00 AM and the meeting adjourns at 4:30 PM. See below for our ticket prices and tentative agenda.

Ticket Pricing

$85 Retired Member 

$185 MD GFOA Member 

$225 Govt Employed Non-Member 

$235 Associate Non-Member

Agenda

9:00 am – 9:10 am: Introduction and Welcome

• Speaker: Rob Burk, President, MDGFOA

9:10 am – 10:00 am: Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Update

• Speaker: Nic Solecki, Associate Research Analyst, Marquette Associates
• Speaker: Lauren Cellucci, Managing Partner, Marquette Associates
• Description: Cryptocurrencies continue to generate numerous headlines, and much debate.  Many governments have continued to maintain a wait-and-see approach to crypto-investment, but some have jumped in headfirst.  GFOA recently issued an advisory advising governments to abstain from accepting cryptocurrency for receivables, using cryptocurrency for payables, and investing in these products.  This session will examine the current market, touch on the risks local government finance officials need to be aware of, and examine the future of cryptocurrency.

10:00 am – 10:50 am: Best Practices in Capital Planning

• Speaker: Pam Kelly, Senior Vice President, Wye River Group
• Speaker: Walter Goldsmith, Managing Director, First Tryon Advisors
• Description: Long-term capital planning is the foundation upon which all key financial decisions are made by a governmental entity. It serves as a critical roadmap for the future by prioritizing capital projects, identifying optimal funding sources as well as the potential fiscal and credit impacts on a municipality.  This session will focus on best practices for developing and maintaining a comprehensive capital planning model that can assist decision-makers in addressing the needs of its constituency while ensuring affordability and compliance with established financial policies.

10:50 am – 11:10 am: Break

11:10 am – 12:00 pm: Maryland Revenue Update

• Speaker: Robert Rehrmamn, Bureau of Revenue Estimates
• Description:  This presentation will discuss trends in Maryland’s economy and their impact on State and local revenues, especially income taxes.  It will also touch on the budget outlook for the state and some likely revenue and budget issues for the upcoming legislative session.

12:00 pm – 12:30 pm: Networking Reception

12:30 pm –1:30 pm: Lunch

1:30 pm – 2:20 pm: Strategic Planning for Local Governments 

• Speaker: Yvonne Carney, Director of Strategic Performance, WSSC Water
• Description: GFOA recommends that governments use strategic planning to provide a long-term perspective for service delivery and budgeting, linking authorized spending with broad organizational goals. Hear how WSSC Water developed its FY23-FY25 Strategic Plan through extensive analysis and engagement with stakeholders, and how the strategic planning process has matured to make the connection between planning, budgeting and organizational performance. Attendees will come away with helpful tips to operationalize strategic planning in your organization.

2:20 pm – 3:10 pm: Enhancing Data Visualization for the Public and your Office

• Speaker: Emma Petke, Performance Analyst, WSSC Water
• Description: Governments use data to make the case for funding, evaluate program effectiveness and monitor day-to-day operations, among many other uses. Thanks to modern technology, most governments are awash in data, but it can be challenging to sift through it all to present the most meaningful information for the public and elected officials. At WSSC Water, we've established a strategic initiative focused on empowering employees to use data in an actionable manner, by growing their ability to analyze and visualize data through trainings, monthly Data Community meetings, guidebooks and 1-on-1 support. As a result, WSSC Water's presentation of data in budget documents and public meeting presentations has improved to clearly explain technical topics to non-technical audiences. This session will provide attendees an overview of data visualization concepts that you can apply at your organization.

3:10 pm – 3:30 pm: Break

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm: Economic Update - No Time to Buy

• Speaker: Anirban Basu, Chairman & CEO, Sage Policy Group, Inc.
• Description: This presentation will supply in-depth analysis of the major factors shaping economic outcomes, including elevated inflation, lingering pandemic, worker shortages, war in Europe, rising interest rates, and stepped up infrastructure spending.  It will then turn toward a forecast for the year to come:  Is there more growth in our future, or is another recession on the way?

Adjourn